Key evidence will be footage recorded during basketball practice at the school on Jan. 7, 2013. The footage was captured on a student's cellphone as well as school surveillance cameras, a complaint affidavit states.

Hayes was fired from being a citizen coach after the incident.

During Monday's opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Stacie Kaylor told jurors that Michael Thompson, then 16, and another player got into a fight during practice.

After the confrontation, Thompson was angry about Hayes' inaction and cursed at Hayes while trying to leave the gym, Kaylor said.

Hayes twisted Thompson's arm, pushed him against a wall and began demanding that Thompson "respect" him, Kaylor said. "It wasn't for anything other than Michael Thompson cursed at him when he was trying to leave the gym," Kaylor said.

Thompson's parents were "outraged" by Hayes' actions, she said.

"They never gave Burney Hayes permission to touch their child — much less twist his arm and slam him against a wall," she said.

Two lawyers, James "Rusty" Franklin and Larry Hardaway, are representing Hayes.

In his opening statement, Franklin told jurors that Hayes' actions were justified and he "is on trial for nothing more than doing his job."

"This case is not about Coach Hayes letting two children maybe blow off a little steam," Franklin said.

A player accused Thompson of not giving all of his effort during practice, and they got into an argument, he said.

<p>BARTOW | A former citizen coach at Lake Wales High School is going to trial on misdemeanor charges of forcefully removing a player from a gymnasium.</p><p>Burney Hayes, 53, faces one count of battery, which carries a maximum punishment of one year in jail.</p><p>Lawyers spent Monday selecting jurors to decide the case. Testimony is expected to begin today.</p><p>Key evidence will be footage recorded during basketball practice at the school on Jan. 7, 2013. The footage was captured on a student's cellphone as well as school surveillance cameras, a complaint affidavit states.</p><p>Hayes was fired from being a citizen coach after the incident.</p><p>During Monday's opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Stacie Kaylor told jurors that Michael Thompson, then 16, and another player got into a fight during practice.</p><p>"Burney watches it all," Kaylor said. "He doesn't do anything. He doesn't stop it. He doesn't say anything."</p><p>After the confrontation, Thompson was angry about Hayes' inaction and cursed at Hayes while trying to leave the gym, Kaylor said.</p><p>Hayes twisted Thompson's arm, pushed him against a wall and began demanding that Thompson "respect" him, Kaylor said. "It wasn't for anything other than Michael Thompson cursed at him when he was trying to leave the gym," Kaylor said.</p><p>Thompson's parents were "outraged" by Hayes' actions, she said.</p><p>"They never gave Burney Hayes permission to touch their child — much less twist his arm and slam him against a wall," she said.</p><p>Two lawyers, James "Rusty" Franklin and Larry Hardaway, are representing Hayes.</p><p>In his opening statement, Franklin told jurors that Hayes' actions were justified and he "is on trial for nothing more than doing his job."</p><p>"This case is not about Coach Hayes letting two children maybe blow off a little steam," Franklin said.</p><p>A player accused Thompson of not giving all of his effort during practice, and they got into an argument, he said.</p><p>"They're basically slap boxing," Franklin said. "They're moving around."</p><p>He described Thompson as the "hothead" who after the altercation began using profanity, wouldn't perform pushups as punishment and then wouldn't leave.</p><p>"Michael was out of control and had to be removed from that gym," Franklin said.</p><p>[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com. ]</p>